Sri Lanka players raise safety concerns during Pakistan tour

Thursday, 13 November 2025 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) yesterday confirmed that several members of the national team currently touring Pakistan have expressed a desire to return home, citing safety concerns.

The development prompted immediate engagement between SLC, the players, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with assurances that all necessary steps are being taken in coordination with relevant authorities to ensure the security and well-being of the touring party.

SLC has instructed the players, support staff, and team management to proceed with the tour as scheduled. However, the Board said replacements will be dispatched if any player or staff member chooses to return despite the directive. It added that any such decision would trigger a formal review to assess the individual’s actions, with further decisions to follow upon the review’s conclusion.

The full statement issued by SLC is as follows.

SLC was informed by the team management this morning that several members of the national team currently touring Pakistan have requested to return home, citing safety concerns.

Following this development, SLC immediately engaged with the players and assured them that all such concerns are being duly addressed in close coordination with the PCB and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the touring party.

In this context, SLC has instructed all players, support staff, and team management to continue with the tour as scheduled.

However, should any player or member of the touring party decide to return to Sri Lanka despite the directive issued by SLC to continue with the tour, SLC will immediately send replacements to ensure that the tour continues without interruption.

If any player, players, or member of the support staff return despite SLC’s directives, a formal review will be conducted to assess their actions, and an appropriate decision will be made upon the conclusion of the review.